Beer-bung and tapping device for use therewith.



PATENTBD MAY 2, 1905.

C. A. GILDEMEYER.

BEER BUNG AND TAPPING DEVICE FUR USE THERBWITH.

APPLIOTION ILED JULY 31,1903.

PATBNTED MAY z, 1905.

C. A. GILDEMEYER.

BEER BUNG AND TAPPING DEVICE EUR USE THEREWITH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1903.

.luieren STATES Patented May 2, 1905.

rPATENT Ormes.

BEER-BUNG AND TAPPING DEVICE FOFl USE THEREWITH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,768, dated May 2, 1905. .Application filed July 31, 1F03. Serial No. 167,776.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LCHARLns A. GILDnMnYuR, a citizen of the United States. and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Beer-Bunge and Tapping Devices for Use Therewith, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to beer-brings and to means for, tapping beer-kegs; and it consists of certain improvements in bungs designed to receive and coact with a special tapping deviceparticularly designed and adapted for use with such bungs.

My invention also includes a device for use in connection with the bung for filling the kegs, or, as it is termed,"raeking the beer.

My invention is fully shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a sectional view of a barrel or keg containing beer or other liquid, showing the position of the bungs forming the subject of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of such bung, showing one form of tapping device combined therewith. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line c c, Fig. 2. Fig. i is a plan view of a part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2, partly in section, on the line 6 Fig. 5 is a side elevation of Fig. 4i. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of parts of the structure shown in Fig. 2 detached. Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Fig. 2, showing another form of tapping device. Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view taken on the line c c, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 isa seetional elevation of a structure somewhatisimilar to the tapping device which is employed in racking the beer and for the purpose oi et- Tecting the closure of the bung. Fig. l0 is a sectional view on theline d o?, Fig. 9; and Figs. 11 and l2 are perspective views illustrating details of my invention.

The bung forming the subject of my invention is indicated at 1 in the accompanying drawings and is arranged to be threaded into the heads 2 of the keg, barrel, or other package 3. The bung proper is provided with a flange 4 and has in the bottom web or wall of the same an aperture or opening 6 for the reception of a wooden plug or cork 7. The

flange is recessed at 8 to receive a portion of the tapping device, and the interior of the bung is cut away on opposite sides at 9 and lO to receive the engaging portions oi' the tapping device, such device being arranged to be inserted in the bung and then given a partial turn to lock it iirmly in place.

Thebungmay be seated in the barrel in any suitable manner and with the aid of any suitable tool, and the pitch of the thread is such that a 'Huid-tight joint will be maintained at the point ol: contact with the material forming the heads oi'I the barrel, keg, or other package. If desired, a gasket may be employed to insure against leakage. This bung, as noted above, carries a wooden plug or cork, which seals it against leakage, and this cork is displaced by suitable means when the tapping apparatus is set in place..

One form of the tapping apparatus is shown in sectional view, Fig. 2, and in detail in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6. This tapping device comprises the hollow stem 15,having depending lugs or members 16 and 17 arranged to enter the bung and when turned to iit spaces 9 and l0 in the top ot' the same, being thereby firmly seated in place. When so disposed, it is necessary to insure against leakage between the bung proper and this tapping device, and for this purpose a flange 18 is providcdditting the recess 8 of the bung, and to engage and cover the joints between the meeting' faces of these two members a washer 19 is provided, which is carried by a loose ring 20, surrounding' the tubular stein l5 ot' the tapping1 device. This washer is preferably continuous; but the loose ring is made in two parts, all of which being clearly illustrated in Fig. 6, and in practice the continuous washer will serve to hold the sections of the ring together, if necessary or desirable, a dovetailed recess 2l being formed in said ring-section. This loose ring is provided for the purpose of securing a packing member that will serve to eiliectually close the joint, but one which will be seated by direct downward pressure instead oi' pressure imparted by a turning action, it being well understood that any such turning action would entail considerable wear and require constant renewal of the soi`tpaeking ring. For the purpose of holding this packing in place to IOO make the desired liquid-tight joint I provide the threaded sleeve 25, made in two parts. as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and having a flange 26, which is extended on opposite sides to form the ears 27, adapted to receive the bolts 28, which are secured by nuts 29. This sleeve is adapted to the threaded portion 30 of the tubular stem and is necessarily made in two parts in order that it may be placed in proper position.

This tapping device, as described above, has a tubular stem 35 extending at one side of the same, which is formed integral with the tube 15 and adapted to receive connection from a pipe delivering air under pressure to act upon the beer within the keg, and thereby empty the latter of liquid, or to receive a pipe through which the liquid is discharged from said keg. 1n either instance it is necessary, of course, to dislodge the wooden cork or plug 7 closing the bung, and for this purpose a pin or rod 36 is provided'fitting into the tubular stem 15 and having a head 37,` which serves to act upon said cork. To insure a liquid-tight joint at the point where said pin or rod 36 enters the tubular stem 15,1 provide a suitable gland 38,carrying packing 39, which is held in place by an ordinary glandnut 40. Thehead of the pin or rod 36 is provided with a cap-piece 45 to prevent it dropping through the tubular stem of the tapping device, and this cap-piece is preferably threaded into said pin or rod 36. When this pin or rod 36 is driven into the tapping device, suitable connection having been made with the tubular stem 35, the apparatus will be ready for use, and it is only necessary then to lift the rod or pin 36 to an upper position,where it will clear the entrance of the tubular stem 35, the packing within the gland being tight enough to hold it in any desired position.

The tapping device shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is substantially similar to that shown in Fig's. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, except that the bung 1 is not recessed, and in order to close the joint between the flange of the bung and the flange 18 of the tapping device a packing gasket or washer 19, L-shaped in cross-section, is employed. There is, too, a slight difference in the structure of the members 16XL and 17, which are arranged to enter the apertures 9 and 10 within the bung, whereby the tapping device is held in place. In this instance these projections have right-angled lugs 46 and 47, arranged to tit under lugs 48 and 49, carried by the bung. In this instance also the hol-- low stem 15 has a side extension 35, provided with a socket arranged to receivea pipe leading from an air apparatus or a pipe leading to the discharge apparatus, as the case may be, and the extreme diameter, therefore, of the tubular stem 15 is so much reduced' that the ring 20, carrying the packing 19, may be in a single piece, and the sleeve 25, adapted to the threaded portion 30, may also be a single member. struction very materially, though the character of the device issubstantially the same as the structure illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

In Fig. 9 I have shown the racking device or the member by the aid of which the liquid maybe introduced into the keg or package through a bung of the character described and which also carries the wooden plug or cork, with means for setting such cork in place after the barrel, keg, or other package has been filled. It comprises the tubular stem 55. which is constructed at its lower part in substantially thel same manner as the tapping devices shown in Figs. 2 and 7, that shown herewith being a counterpart of Fig. 2 and is secured in place in substan tiall y the same manner. This tubular stem 55 has a branch 56 leading into the same from the source of supply, and this branch is provided with a suitable cut-off valve, gate, or plug-cock (indicated at 5() for cutting off the iow otl liquid. The wooden plug or cork, which is afterward driven into the bung, is held just above the entrance of the connection 56 and fits the walls of the structure so as to maintain a fluid-tight joint at this point. p This wooden plug or cork is introduced into place through apertures 58, formed in an enlarged portion 59 of the tube 55, and disposed directly above said wooden plug or cork is a rod or pin 60, carried by the structure and by means of which the cork is driven into place. This stem or plug is so arranged that when driven in to the full extent its movement will be just suiicient to seat the cork in proper position in the aperture 6 of the bung, and the stem is provided, as in the other instances, with a head 45. For the purpose of holding this rod or pin 60 in the upper position I provide the spring 61.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view or' Fig. 9 on the line d d, showing the enlarged portion and the apertures 58, provided for the introduction of the corks.

Figs. 11 and 12 are perspective views similar to Fig. 6, illustrating the washer or packing-gasket 19 and its carrying-ring 20.

The bungs forming the subject of my invention are intended to be placed in the opposite ends of the keg, barrel, or other package, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, and such keg is then mounted in the position shown in said figure, being supported in a suitable cradle. The air connection is made at the point a), or with the bung at the upper part or end of the keg or barrel, and the discharge connection is made at the pointy, or the lower end of the keg or barrel, and proceeding, as noted herein, the barrel may be tapped and the liquid contents of the same readily discharged.

Having thus described my invention, l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination with a bung for kegs,

This simplifies the coni IOO IIO

IIS

barrels and the like having an aperture closed by a removable member and havinga seat to receive a tapping device, of a structure comprising atubular stem having projections arranged to lit into the bung and be retained thereby when turned with respect to the bung, a shoulder carried by said tubular stem and abutting the bung, a gasket or packing-ring carried by the tubular stem and serving to close the joint between such shoulder and the bung, a carrier for said gasket` a threaded sleeve mounted on the tubular stem and serving to hold the gasket to its seat, and means carried by said stem for dislodging the bung-closure.

2. The combination with a bung having a recessed seat to receive a tapping device, of a tubular stern having' projections to t said seat, a Bange carried by said stem and abutting said bung, a gasket or packingring carried by the tubular stem to close the joint between said flange and the bung, a carrier for said gasket, said carrier being loosely mounted on the stem, and a threaded collar serving to engage said carrier and move the gasket into place, such ring being moved downward positively by the rotative movement of the sleeve.

3. The combination with a bung having a recessed-seat to receive a tapping device, of a tubular stem having projections to fit said seat, a flange carried by said stem, said bung having an annular recess to receive said Harige, a gasket or packing-ring carried by the tubular stem to close the joint between said Hange and the bung, a carrier for said gasket made in halves and loosely mounted on the stern, and a threaded collar serving to engage said carrier and move the gasket into place, such ring being moved downward positively by the rotative movement of the sleeve.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this speciiication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GHAS. A. GILDEMEYER.

VitneSSes:

EDWARD E. MORGAN, JOHN H. lHILIrs. 

